Setting the Stage

Abstract

Thinking about practice requires reflection on the ontological aspects, or the nature of, practice. What do we mean by practice? How do we represent what we mean in language? Can practice be captured in frameworks and models? Why use them? What are the key aspects of practice? In this section, we discuss these and other aspects of practice to prompt your thinking about the nature of practice and how to represent it.

Key Themes: EPP is a practice lifestyle that involves being intentional, staying in inquiry, being reflective, having clarity ofpurpose, and being willing to take action.

Reflections: When I first began my career as a child and youth care worker; I thought that practice in the health and social services field was about getting busy and making things better. I knew a little about case planning and that periodically I would be expected to generate case plans, but for me planning was separate and apart from my world ofpractice. At times, I viewed the plans that were in place as constraints to my practice. Indeed, given how and why these plans were created, they probably were constraining and irrelevant. However; I have come to appreciate the interconnectedness of practice and planning. I have also come to realize that this integration ofpractice and planning takes place within multifaceted and complex contexts. In my current practice, I think and reflect more; I ask more questions. I am not as afraid to say, “I don’t know,” and I ask others-particularly clients-for their perspective. Some ofmy questions are: What can we learn from our mistakes? What should I do with people who expect me to be an expert and the doer? How can we be creative, intentional, and effective in a way that works for all of us?